Sour economy puts one-room schoolhouses at risk

The one-room school is a potential victim of the nation's economic crisis. Officials in 25 to 30 states are considering rural school cuts, says Marty Strange, policy director for the nonprofit Rural School and Community Trust. The one-teacher school is in particular danger. In 2005-06, the most recent year for which data are available, only 335 remained. In the last year or so, officials inNebraska, Michigan, North Dakota, Maine, Virginia and Florida have shut down or discussed closing remote classrooms. Rural school advocates say funding gaps make the schools easy targets. Per-pupil costs are higher in smaller schools, and political power is usually centered in cities. Bigger schools have a wider range of classes and more specialists, such as art and music teachers.

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